Method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor in which a sensor element is formed by through-hole dry etching of an element substrate, and an electrically conductive material is used as an etching stop layer during the dry etching.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, such as an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]FIG. 6A illustrates a top plan view of an angular velocity sensor which is an external force detection sensor, and FIG. 6B illustrates a section taken along the line A-A indicated in FIG. 6A. A sensor element 1 to constitute the angular velocity sensor illustrated in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B is of predetermined shape in which an element substrate 3 (e.g., a semi-conductor substrate such as a single crystal silicon substrate) to be joined with, for example, a glass support substrate 2 is dry-etched.

[0005] As illustrated in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, an oscillating body 5 is arranged in a floating condition from the above-described support substrate 2 above a surface 2 a which is a surface in the direction of the X-Y plane of the above-described support substrate 2. In the oscillating body 5, a weight 5 b is provided inside a frame body 5 a. A plurality of (four in an example in FIGS. 6A and 6B) fixed parts 6 are arranged on the support substrate 2 in a fixed manner with intervals from each other, and the oscillating body 5 is supported in an oscillating manner In the X-direction and the Y-direction by each fixed part 6 through each L-shaped support beam (beam) 7.

[0006] Comb-toothed movable electrodes 10 (10 a, 10 b) are formed on right and left sides of the oscillating body 5 as viewed in FIG. 6A outwardly in each direction of the X-axis, and fixed comb-toothed electrodes 11 (11 a, 11 b) to be engaged with the movable electrodes 10 through clearance are extended inward of fixed parts 12 in each direction of the X-axis.

[0007] An electrically conductive pattern not illustrated is connected to the comb-toothed electrodes 11 a, 11 b, and the voltage is applied to the fixed comb-toothed electrodes 11 a, 11 b from each external side through the electrically conductive pattern. For example, when AC voltages different in phase by 180° are applied to the fixed comb-toothed electrodes 11 a, 11 b through the electrically conductive pattern with the movable electrodes 10 a, 10 b in the condition of a specified fixed voltage (e.g., zero V), electrostatic forces opposite in direction to each other are generated between the movable electrode 10 a and the fixed comb-toothed electrode 11 a, and between the movable electrode 10 b and the fixed comb-toothed toothed electrode 11 b, and the oscillating body 5 is excitation-oscillated in the X-direction by the electrostatic forces.

[0008] Movable electrodes 13 (13 a, 13 b) are extended on upper and lower sides of the oscillating body 5 as viewed in FIG. 6A in each longitudinal direction, i.e., each direction of the Y-axis, and fixed electrodes 14 (14 a, 14 b) opposite to the movable electrodes 13 through a clearance are extended inward of a fixed part 15 in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] In the angular velocity sensor (external force detection sensor) of the above-described constitution, a Coriolis force is generated in the Y-direction when the external force detection sensor is rotated about a Z-axis orthogonal to the direction of the X-Y plane in a condition where the oscillating body 5 is excitation-oscillated in the X-direction as described above. The Coriolis force is applied to the oscillating body 5, and the oscillating body 5 is oscillated in the direction of the Coriolis force. The clearance between the above-described movable electrodes 13 and fixed electrodes 14 is changed by the oscillation in the Y-direction of the oscillating body 5 attributable to the Coriolis force, and the electrostatic capacity between the movable electrodes 13 and the fixed electrodes 14 is changed. The magnitude of the angular velocity of the rotation can be detected by detecting the electric signal corresponding to the magnitude of the amplitude of the oscillation in the Y-direction of the oscillating body 5 generated by the above-described Coriolis force making use of the change in electrostatic capacity. Thus, the sensor element 1 of the angular velocity sensor illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B forms a movable element having a movable part such as the oscillating body 5 and a support beam 7.

[0010] An example of a conventional method of manufacturing the angular velocity sensor illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B is briefly described referring to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, a recess 16 is formed on a back surface 3 b of the element substrate 3 by a dry etching technology such as RIE (Reactive Ion Etching) to form, for example, a membrane (diaphragm) 17 of 60-70 μm in thickness d.

[0011] As illustrated in FIG. 7B, an etching stop layer 18 comprised of silicon oxide is formed on a top surface 16 a of the above-described recessed part 16 using a film forming technology such as CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition).

[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 7C, the support substrate 2 is arranged on the back surface 3 b side of the above-described element substrate 3, the support substrate 2 and the element substrate 3 are heated to high temperature, and a high voltage is applied thereto to anode-join the support substrate 2 with the element substrate 3.

[0013] After that, the membrane 17 of the above-described support substrate 2 is machined making use of a photolithography method and RIE to form a plurality of through holes 20 reaching from the surface 3 a of the element substrate 3 to the above-described etching stop layer 18 as illustrated in FIG. 7D, and the sensor element 1 is formed by forming the oscillating body 5, the support beam 7, the movable electrode 10, the fixed comb-toothed electrode 11, the movable electrode 13, the fixed electrode 14, etc. by a plurality of these through holes 20. In this specification and the claims, the dry etching technology to form the through holes to be passed from the face side to the back surface side of the substrate is referred to as “through-hole dry etching”.

[0014] As described above, after the sensor element 1 is formed, the etching stop layer 18 is removed by a wet etching process using a buffer hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution as illustrated in FIG. 7E. The angular velocity sensor as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B can thus be manufactured.

[0015] The etching stop layer 18 to be formed in manufacturing the external force detection sensor such as the angular velocity sensor has be conventionally formed of an insulating material such as silicon oxide from the viewpoint of facilitation of forming a layer and simplification of a manufacturing process of the external force detection sensor. However, the inventor noticed that a notch (a profile distortion) is formed on a lower part side (i.e., a side on which the etching stop layer 18 is formed) of a side wall surface of the through holes 20 as illustrated in FIG. 7E since the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the insulating material as described above.

[0016] This may be considered attributable to the following reason. For example, when the element substrate 3 is machined by through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element 1, the etching removal is achieved faster in a hole larger in etching removal area such as a through hole 20 a between the frame body 5 a and the weight 5 b of the oscillating body 5 illustrated in FIG. 6A than in a hole smaller in etching removal area such as a through hole (an etching groove) 20 a between the movable electrode 10 and the fixed comb-toothed electrode 11 by the micro-loading effect.

[0017] The time required to achieve the etching removal up to the etching stop layer 18 and complete the forming of the through holes 20 after the through-hole dry etching is started is different for each through hole 20 by the difference in the above-described etching removal area. Since the above-described through-hole dry etching is continuously performed until the forming of all through holes 20 is completed, some through holes 20 which are continuously exposed to an etching gas though the etching removal is completed are generated (hereinafter, these through holes are referred to as the “over etched through holes”).

[0018] The etching gas continuously enters such over etched through holes 20 during the over-etching, and the etching stop layer 18 at a bottom part of these over etched through holes 20 is charged positive by the collision of the positive ion in the etching gas.

[0019] When the etching is continued even after the etching stop layer 18 is charged positive and the etching gas continuously enters inside the over etched through holes 20, the positive ion in the etching gas is advanced straight toward the etching stop layer 18 inside the through holes 20, but repulsed by chef positive charge of the above-described etching stop layer 18 immediately before the positive ion reaches the etching stop layer 18. In addition, the side wall surface of the over etched through holes 20 is charged negative by the collision of the electron in the etching gas, and thus, the above-described positive ion is attracted to the side wall surface of the through holes 20 immediately before it reaches the etching stop layer 18, and the course of the positive ion is largely curved. As a result, the positive ion in the etching gas collides with the bottom side (the side on which the etching stop layer 18 is formed) of the side wall surface of the through hole 20 to form the notch n as illustrated in FIG. 7E.

[0020] Since the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the insulating material, it is found that the following problem can occur. When no through holes 20 are completed yet while the through hole dry etching is performed to form the through holes 20, as shown in FIG. 8A, the heat generated in the side wall surface of the through holes 20 (as shown by the arrows in FIG. 8A) is diffused into the membrane 17, and the area to be dry-etched of the membrane 17 or the like is heated to the same temperature almost over the whole area.

[0021] However, when a through holes 20A is generated during the over etching as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the temperature of a part between the over etched through holes 20A (for example, a hole indicated by the reference numeral 21 in FIG. 8B) rises. That is, when the electrons in the etching gas collide with the side wail surface of the through hole 20A during the over etching to generate heat, the hole 21 is thermally independent from other areas since the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the insulating material and its heat conductivity is very inferior, the heat is stored in the side wall surface of the hole 21, and the temperature of the hole 21 rises higher than the other areas. Thus, the hole 21 becomes easier to etch than the other areas, the etching removal is excessively achieved as indicated by a solid line while the true etching removal should be originally achieved to the dimension as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 8C, resulting in a part not being formed to the designed dimension because of the excessive etching.

[0022] As described above, the inventor noticed that the notch n is formed on the etching stop layer 18 side of the side wall surface of the through holes 20, excessive etching is generated, and the sensor element 1 can not be formed to the designed dimension with excellent accuracy since the etching stop layer 18 has been formed of the insulating material in a conventional practice. For example, since the sensor element 1 can not thus be formed with excellent dimensional accuracy, stable output sensitivity of the external force detection sensor can not be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Accordingly, the present invention can solve the problem associated with the conventional arc and provides a manufacturing method of an external force detection sensor capable of forming a sensor element to the designed dimension with excellent accuracy.

[0024] To achieve the above-described purpose, the present invention, in accordance with a first aspect, uses an electrically conductive material as an etching stop layer during dry-etching of the above-described element substrate.

[0025] The method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in including a process in which a recessed part is formed on a back surface side of the element substrate and a membrane is formed on a face side, a process in which an etching-stop layer comprised of the electrically conductive material is provided on a top surface of the recessed part of the above-described element substrate, a process in which the back surface side of the element substrate is joined with a support substrate, and a process in which a sensor element is formed by dry-etching the membrane of the above-described element substrate.

[0026] According to a third aspect of the invention, the manufacturing method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the recessed part to constitute the above-described second invention is formed in a center part of the back surface of the element substrate.

[0027] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the etching stop layer comprised of the electrically conductive material is interposed between the above-described element substrate and a dummy support substrate to support this element substrate in the manufacturing method of the external force detection sensor to form the sensor element by effecting the through-hole dry etching of the element substrate.

[0028] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the constitution of the above-described fourth aspect is provided, and after the sensor element is formed on the element substrate, the dummy support substrate and the etching stop layer are removed, and then, the support substrate with the recessed part formed therein is arranged on a back surface side of the element substrate to arrange the recessed part of the above-described support substrate opposite to the sensor element of the above-described element substrate, and the support substrate is joined with the element substrate.

[0029] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the etching stop layer comprised of the electrically conductive material is formed in a set sensor element forming area on the back surface side of the element substrate, the support substrate with the recessed part formed therein is arranged on the back surface side of the element substrate to arrange the recessed part of the support substrate opposite to the etching stop layer of the element substrate, the support substrate is joined with the element substrate, and then, the sensor element forming area of the above-described element substrate is machined by the through-hole dry-etching from the face side to form the sensor element.

[0030] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the etching stop layer comprised of the electrically conductive material is formed in the set sensor element forming area on the back surface side of the element substrate, the support substrate with the recessed part formed therein is arranged on the back surface side of the above-described element substrate to arrange the recessed part in the above-described support substrate opposite to the etching stop layer of the above-described element substrate, and then, the support substrate is joined with the element substrate, and then, the thickness of the above-described element substrate is reduced to a specified value, and then, the sensor element forming area of the above-described element substrate is machined by through-hole dry-etching from the face side to form the sensor element.

[0031] According to an eighth aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the set sensor element forming area or the element substrate is machined from both face and back surface sides to form a membrane, the etching stop layer comprised of the electrically conductive material is formed on the back surface side of the membrane, and then, the support substrate is joined with the back surface side of the element substrate, and the membrane is machined by the through-hole dry-etching from the face side to form the sensor element.

[0032] According to a ninth aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the invention to constitute the above-described second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth aspect is formed of a silicon, the support substrate is formed of a glass material, and the element substrate and the support substrate are anodically joined with each other.

[0033] According to a tenth aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the constitution of either one of the above-described first to ninth aspects is provided, and the etching stop layer is formed of the electrically conductive material in which the etch selectivity, i.e., the ratio of the dry-etch rate of the element substrate to the dry-etch rate of the etching stop layer is not less than 1.

[0034] According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, the method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor is characterized in that the sensor element to constitute either of the above-described first to tenth aspects is a movable element.

[0035] In the present invention, the etching stop layer is formed of the electrically conductive material, and thus, even when the positive ion in the etching gas entering inside the through holes during the over-etching operation collides with the etching stop layer to charge the etching stop layer positive while the through holes are formed in the element substrate by through-hole dry etching, the positive charge in the etching stop layer is instantaneously and electrically neutralized by the negative charge on the side wall surface of the through holes, and the positively charged condition of the etching stop layer is eliminated and not continuous.

[0036] Thus, almost all positive ions in the etching gas entering inside the through holes during the over-etching operation are advanced straight toward the etching stop layer, and prevented from colliding with the side wall surface of the through holes. The notch forming in the side wall surface of the through holes can be avoided thereby.

[0037] Further, since the etching stop layer is formed of electrically conductive material and its heat conductivity is excellent, the etching stop layer can function as a heat transfer passage, and the temperature of the area to be etched can be substantially uniform almost over the whole area, and the excessive etching attributable to non-uniform temperature can be prevented.

[0038] As described above, by forming the etching stop layer of electrically conductive material, both the notch forming in the side wall surface of the through holes and the excessive etching can be avoided. The sensor element can be manufactured as designed with excellent dimensional accuracy thereby. Thus, the external force detection sensor excellent in sensitivity, stable in output sensitivity and reliable in quality can be provided.

[0039] In a method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor where the recessed part is provided in the back side of the element substrate to form the membrane, and the above-described membrane is machined by through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element, where the dummy support substrate is joined with the element substrate, and the above-described element substrate is machined by the through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element, where the etching stop layer is formed in the preset sensor element forming area on the back side of the element substrate, the support substrate with the recessed part formed therein is joined with the above-described element substrate, and the above-described membrane is machined by the through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element, or where the recessed part is formed on both the face and back sides of the element substrate to form the membrane, and the above-described membrane is machined by the through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element, the sensor element is very fine in size, and it is not easy to form the sensor element with excellent dimensional accuracy. However, by using the present invention, it becomes easy to manufacture the sensor element as designed with excellent dimensional accuracy even if it is very fine, and the sensor element is very effective to manufacture the external force detection sensor compact in size and excellent in performance.

[0040] In a method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor where the etching stop layer is formed in the preset sensor element forming area on the back side of the element substrate, the support substrate with the recessed part formed therein is joined with the above-described element substrate, the element substrate is machined thin to the specified thickness, and the above-described membrane is machined by the through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element, the thin element substrate can be protected by the support substrate during the manufacture, the breakage of the element substrate can be prevented, and the yield of the external force detection sensor can be improved.

[0041] In a manufacturing method where the element substrate is formed of silicon, the support substrate is formed of a glass material, and the element substrate is anodically joined with the support substrate, the element substrate can be firmly joined with the support substrate to improve the mechanical reliability of the external force detection sensor.

[0042] When the sensor element is a movable element, stricter dimensional accuracy is required, and the stricter requirements can be sufficiently coped with by using the present invention, whereby a sensor element which is a movable element excellent in characteristic can be manufactured, and an external force detection sensor excellent in sensitivity and stable in output sensitivity can be provided.

[0043] In addition, when the etching stop layer is formed of the electrically conductive material which is not less than 1 in etch selectivity which is the ratio of the dry etch rate of the element substrate to the dry etch rate of the etching stop layer, a condition where holes are formed in the etching stop layer during the dry etching can be avoided.

[0044] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings several forms which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0045] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0046]FIGS. 1A to 1E are views illustrating a first embodiment of a method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor of the present invention;

[0047]FIGS. 2A to 2E are views illustrating a second embodiment;

[0048]FIGS. 3A to 3D are views illustrating a third embodiment;

[0049]FIGS. 4A to 4E are views illustrating a fourth embodiment;

[0050]FIGS. 5A to 5E are views illustrating a fifth embodiment;

[0051]FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating an example of the external force detection sensor;

[0052]FIGS. 7A to 7E are views illustrating an example of a conventional method of manufacturing the external force detection sensor; and

[0053]FIGS. 8A to 8C are views illustrating conventional problems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0054] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0055] The embodiments of the present invention are described referring to the drawings.

[0056]FIG. 1A to FIG. 1E illustrate a first embodiment of a manufacturing method of an external force detection sensor of the present invention. In the explanation of the first embodiment, the same symbol is given to the same component in the above-described conventional example, and the duplicate explanation of common parts is omitted.

[0057] The first embodiment is characterized in that an etching stop layer 18 formed in manufacturing a sensor element 1 to constitute the external force detection sensor is formed of an electrically conductive material. Other constitutions are same as those in the above-described conventional example.

[0058] Recently, higher sensitivity has been demanded for the external force detection sensor such as an angular velocity sensor, and it is desired to manufacture the sensor element 1 with more excellent dimensional accuracy. Thus, a notch n and excessive etching formed on a side wall surface of a through hole 20 have raised a serious problem as described above. In a conventional practice as described above, the etching stop layer 18 has been formed of an insulating material from the viewpoint of facilitation in forming the layer and simplification of the manufacturing process, and no consideration has been given to forming the etching stop layer 18 of other materials. However, to solve the above-described problem, in accordance with the present invention, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of a electrically conductive material.

[0059] That means, in this first embodiment, as indicated in FIG. 1A, a recessed part 16 is formed on a back surface 3 b of an element substrate 3 to form a membrane 17 of a specified thickness d (e.g., 70 μm). As indicated in FIG. 1B, the etching stop layer 18 is formed on a top surface 16 a (a back surface side of the membrane 17) of the recessed part 16. In this first embodiment, as described above, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of an electrically conductive material, and the etching stop layer 18 is formed on the top surface 16 a of the above-described recessed part 16 by, for example, electron beam evaporation method or film forming technology such as sputtering. In this first embodiment, the electrically conductive material to form the etching stop layer 18 is not less than 1 in etch selectivity (i.e., the ratio of the dry etch rate of the element substrate 3 to the dry etch rate of the etching stop layer 18) in order to surely perform the function as the etching stop layer.

[0060] Next, as indicated in FIG. 1C, the support substrate 2 is arranged on a back surface 3 b side of the element substrate 3, and the support substrate 2 and the element substrate 3 are anodically joined with each other. As indicated in FIG. 1D, the through-hole dry etching of the membr4ane 17 of the element substrate 3 is effected from the face 3 a side making use of photolithography and dry-etching technology such as RIE to form a plurality of through holes 20 reaching the above-described etching stop layer 18, and the sensor element 1 as illustrated in FIG. 6 is formed by a plurality of through holes 20.

[0061] In effecting the above-described through-hole dry etching, during over-etching operation, an etching gas enters inside the through holes 20, and the positive ion in the etching gas collides with the etching stop layer 18, and the etching stop layer 18 is charged positive. Since the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material, the positive charge in the etching stop layer 18 is instantaneously and electrically neutralized by the negative charge on the side wall surface of the through holes 20 to eliminate the positively charged condition of the etching stop layer 18.

[0062] In the through holes 20 during the over-etching operation, the positive ions in the etching gas enter are advanced straight toward the etching stop layer 18, and collide with the etching stop layer 18, preventing a problem in a conventional practice that the course of the positive ions is curved (attributable to the etching stop layer 18 which is continuously charged positive), and thereby collide with the side wall surface of the through holes 20 to form a notch n in the side wall surface.

[0063] Further, in this first embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material which is excellent in thermal conductivity, as described above, and can function as a heat transfer passage. Thus, even when a part surrounded by the through holes 20 generates heat because of the collision of the etching gas, the heat is transferred to other areas through the etching stop layer 18, and the temperature of essentially the whole area to be etched can be set at essentially the same temperature. Excessive etching attributable to non-uniform temperature can be avoided thereby.

[0064] As described above, the notch n preventive effect of the side wall surface of the through holes 20 and the excessive etching avoiding effect attributable to the non-uniform temperature can be demonstrated by forming the etching stop layer 18 of the electrically conductive material. In particular, based on experiments by the inventor, the above-described effects are remarkable and preferable when the electrically conductive material of the etching stop layer is not less than 1×10⁶ Ω⁻¹·m⁻¹ in electric conductivity and not less than 0.1 W·cm⁻¹·K⁻¹ in heat conductivity. For example, the etching stop layer 18 may be optimally formed of titanium (1.7×10⁶ Ω⁻¹·m⁻¹ in electric conductivity and 0.219 W·cm⁻¹·K⁻¹ in heat conductivity) or aluminum (3.8×10⁷ Ω⁻¹·m⁻¹ in electric conductivity and 2.37 W·cm⁻¹·K⁻¹ in heat conductivity).

[0065] Nickel or copper, etc. may, of course, be used for the electrically conductive material of the etching stop layer 18. The thickness of the etching stop layer 18 is appropriately set considering the kind of electrically conductive material used to form the etching stop layer 18 and the thickness of the membrane 17, and, for example, when the etching stop layer 18 is formed of titanium or aluminum, the etching stop layer 18 is formed to approximately 300 nm in thickness.

[0066] After the specified forming of all through holes 20 is completed by the through-hole dry etching, the etching stop layer 18 formed of the above-described electrically conductive material is removed by a wet etching process as indicated in FIG. 1E with, for example, hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution. The above-described hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution removes the etching stop layer 18 of the electrically conductive material by a wet etching process, but the element substrate 3 is not damaged thereby.

[0067] As described above, after the etching stop layer 18 is removed by a wet etching process, a lid part 30 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1E as necessary. In such a case, for example, a glass substrate which is the lid part 30 with a recessed part 31 formed therein, is arranged on a face side of the element substrate 3 indicated in FIG. 1E, and the recessed part 31 of the above-described glass substrate 30 is arranged opposite to the sensor element 1 of the element substrate 3, and the element substrate 3 is lapped on the glass substrate 30 so as to be anodically joined with each other. When the lid part 30 is thus provided, the sensor element 1 is stored and sealed in an internal space to be formed by the support substrate 2 and the lid part 30, and the internal space can be evacuated according to the operational characteristic of the sensor element 1.

[0068] In this first embodiment, the external force detection sensor is manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method.

[0069] In this first embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the electrically conductive material, and the etching stop layer 18 at a bottom part of the through holes 20 under the over-etching operation can be prevented from being continuously charged positive during the through-hole dry etching, and the notch n forming of the side wall surface of the through holes 20 attributable to the continuous positive-charge of the etching stop layer 18 can be avoided. Since the etching stop layer 18 formed of the electrically conductive material can function as a heat transfer passage, the heat is transferred through the etching stop layer 18, and the temperature can be maintained approximately the same over almost all of the area to be etched, and the excessive etching attributable to the non-uniform temperature can be prevented.

[0070] As described above, since both the notch n forming and the excessive etching can be prevented, the sensor element 1 can be manufactured with excellent dimensional accuracy, the external force detection sensor excellent in sensitivity and stable in output sensitivity can be provided, and the reliability of the quality of the external force detection sensor can be improved.

[0071] Further, in this first embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the electrically conductive material in which the above-described etch selectivity is not less than 1, and there is hardly a problem that the etching stop layer 18 is subjected to the etching removal during the through-hole dry etching and that holes are formed in the etching stop layer 18. Even if holes are formed in the etching stop layer 18, the etching stop layer 18 is formed almost over the whole area of the top surface 16 a of the recessed part 16 in this first embodiment, and the top surface 16 a of the recessed part 16 can be prevented from being damaged by the etching gas entering inside the recessed part 16 from holes in the above-described etching stop layer 18.

[0072] As indicated in the above-described first embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the electrically conductive material, and thus various changes must be given to the conventional manufacturing process, which one skilled in the art would appreciate and, accordingly, the detailed explanation of such changes is omitted here.

[0073] A second embodiment is described below. In the explanation of the second embodiment, the same symbol is given to the same component in the above-described first embodiment, and the duplicate explanation of common parts is omitted.

[0074]FIG. 2A to FIG. 2E illustrate the second embodiment of the manufacturing method of the external force detection sensor of the present invention. In this second embodiment, firstly as indicated in FIG. 2A, the etching stop layer 18 is formed almost over the whole area of the back surface 3 b of the element substrate 3 by film forming technology such as sputtering. Also in this second embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to that in the above-described embodiment.

[0075] As indicated in FIG. 2B, a dummy support substrate 25 is attached to the back surface 3 b side of the above-described element substrate 3 through the above-described etching stop layer 18 and an adhesive layer (e.g., photo resist) 23.

[0076] After that, as indicated in FIG. 2C, a plurality of through holes 20 leading to the etching stop layer 18 from the face 3 a side of the element substrate 3 are formed by through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element 1 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0077] A coupled body of the above-described element substrate 3 with the dummy support substrate 25 is immersed in acetone solution, etc. to dissolve the adhesive layer 23, and the dummy support substrate 25 is separated from the element substrate 3. Then, as indicated in FIG. 2D, the etching stop layer 18 formed of the above-described electrically conductive material is removed by a wet etching process using an aqueous solution such as hydrofluoric acid aqueous solution.

[0078] After that, as indicated in FIG. 2E, the glass support substrate 2 with the recessed part 26 formed therein is arranged on the back surface 3 b side of the element substrate 3, the recessed part 26 of the above-described support substrate 2 is arranged opposite to the sensor element 1 of the element substrate 3, and the support substrate 2 is anodically joined with the element substrate 3. Further, the lid part 30 illustrated in the above-described first embodiment may be simultaneously anodically joined with the face side of the element substrate 30 as necessary. The recessed part 26 of the above-described support substrate 2 is provided not to prevent the above-described sensor element 1 from being moved.

[0079] Also in this second embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to that in the above-described first embodiment, and thus, the etching stop layer 18 is prevented from being continuously charged positive, and the notch n forming on the side wail surface of the through holes 20 can be avoided, non-uniform temperature in the area to be etched can be prevented, and the excessive etching attributable to the uniform temperature can be avoided. Thus, the sensor element 1 can be manufactured with excellent dimensional accuracy, and the external force detection sensor excellent in sensitivity and stable in output sensitivity can be provided.

[0080] A third embodiment is described below. In the explanation of the third embodiment, the same symbol is given to the same component in the above-described respective embodiments, and the duplicate explanation of common parts is omitted.

[0081]FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D illustrate the third embodiment of the manufacturing method of the external force detection sensor. In this third embodiment, firstly as indicated in FIG. 3A, the etching stop layer 18 is formed in a preset sensor element forming area R (i.e., an area to form the sensor element 1 indicated in FIG. 6A) on the back surface 3 b of the semi-conductor element substrate 3. Also in this third embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to that in the above-described first and second embodiments, and the etching stop layer 18 is formed on the back surface 3 b side of the element substrate 3 by electron beam evaporation method and film forming technology such as sputtering similar to the above-described first and second embodiments.

[0082] As indicated in FIG. 3B, the glass support substrate 2 with the recessed part 26 Formed therein is arranged on the back surface 3 b side of the element substrate 3, the recessed part 26 of the support substrate 2 is arranged opposite to the etching stop layer 18 of the element substrate 3, and the support substrate 2 is anodically joined with the element substrate 3.

[0083] After that, as indicated in FIG. 3C, the sensor element forming area R is worked from the face 3 a side of the element substrate 3 by through-hole dry etching to form a plurality of through holes 20 leading to the etching stop layer 18, and the sensor element 1 as indicated in FIG. 6A is formed. Then, as indicated in FIG. 3D, the etching stop layer 18 is removed by the method similar to that in the above-described first and second embodiments. Then, the lid part 30 described in the first embodiment may be anodically joined with the face side of the element substrate 30, as necessary. The external force detection sensor is thus manufactured.

[0084] Also in this third embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to the above-described first and second embodiments, and thus, both the notch n forming in the side wall surface of the through holes 20 and the excessive etching can be avoided to form the sensor element 1 to the designed dimensions. Thus, the external force detection sensor excellent in sensitivity and stable in output sensitivity can be provided.

[0085] A fourth embodiment is described below. In the explanation of the fourth embodiment, the same symbol is given to the same component in the above-described respective embodiments, and the duplicate explanation of common parts is omitted.

[0086]FIG. 4A to FIG. 4E illustrate the fourth embodiment of the manufacturing method of the external force detection sensor. In this fourth embodiment, the external force detection sensor is manufactured by the manufacturing process approximately similar to the above-described third embodiment, but the fourth embodiment is differently characterized in that after the glass support substrate 2 is anodically joined with the semi-conductor element substrate 3 as indicated in FIG. 4B, the element substrate 3 is reduced in thickness by the etching or cutting to a predetermined value as indicated in FIG. 4C, and a plurality of through holes 20 are formed in the element substrate 3 by through-hole dry etching to form the sensor element 1.

[0087] In this fourth embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to the above-described first and third embodiments, and thus, both the notch n forming in the side wall surface of the through holes 20 and the excessive etching can be avoided, the sensor element 1 can be formed with excellent dimensional accuracy, and the external force detection sensor excellent in sensitivity and stable in output sensitivity can be provided.

[0088] When the thin-machined element substrate 3 is handled in a single body condition in manufacturing the external force detection sensor, the thin single element substrate 3 is easy to break, including cracking and partly chipping. To cope with this, in this fourth embodiment, the support substrate 2 is joined with the element substrate 3 before the element substrate 3 is formed thin, and then, the element substrate 3 is formed thin. Thus, the thin element substrate 3 is not handled in a single body condition, and the breakage of the element substrate 3 during the manufacture can be prevented. Further, a very precise handling device can be dispensed with to manufacture the external force detection sensor.

[0089] A fifth embodiment is described below. In the explanation of the fifth embodiment, the same symbol is given to the same component in the above-described respective embodiments, and the duplicate explanation of common parts is omitted.

[0090]FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E illustrate the fifth embodiment of the manufacturing method of the external force detection sensor. In this fifth embodiment, firstly as indicated in FIG. 5A, recessed parts 27, 28 are formed in a preset sensor element forming area R on both the face side 3 a and the back surface 3 b of the semi-conductor element substrate 3 to form the membrane 17.

[0091] Next, as indicated in FIG. 5B, the etching stop layer 18 is formed on the back side of the above-described membrane 17. Also in this fifth embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to the above-described first and fourth embodiments.

[0092] After that, the glass support substrate 2 is anodically joined with the back surface 3 b side of the element substrate 3 as indicated in FIG. 5C, and as indicated in FIG. 5D, a plurality of through holes 20 are formed by through-hole dry etching of the membrane 17 from its face side to form the sensor element 1 as indicated in FIG. 6. Then, as indicated in FIG. 5E, the etching stop layer 18 is removed by a method similar to that in the above-described first and fourth embodiments to form the sensor element 1. Then, the lid part 30 may be provided on the face side of the element substrate 3 similar to the above-described first and fourth embodiments. The external force detection sensor can be manufactured as described above.

[0093] Also in this fifth embodiment, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material similar to the above-described first and fourth embodiments, and thus, both the notch n forming in the side wall surface of the through holes 20 and the excessive etching can be avoided, the sensor element 1 can be formed to the designed dimensions, and the sensitivity and the stability in the output sensitivity of the external force detection sensor can be improved.

[0094] The present invention is not limited to the above-described respective embodiments, but can be of various embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the element substrate 3 is not cooled during the dry etching, but the element substrate 3 may be cooled during the dry etching. When the etching stop layer 18 is formed of the insulating material like a conventional practice, the above-described problem of non-uniform temperature arises even if the whole element substrate 3 is cooled during the through-hole dry etching. On the other hand, by forming the etching stop layer 18 of electrically conductive material, similar effect to that in the above-described embodiments can be obtained even when the element substrate 3 is cooled during the through-hole dry etching.

[0095] Further, in the above-described second embodiment, the element substrate 3 is joined with the dummy support substrate 25 through the etching stop layer 18 and the adhesive layer 23, but when the etching stop layer 18 is formed of an electrically conductive adhesive, such as an electrically conductive resin, the etching stop layer 18 can function as the adhesive layer, and the above-described adhesive layer 23 may be dispensed with.

[0096] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the support substrate 2 is formed of a glass material, but the material of the support substrate 2 is not so limited and may be formed of silicon or other materials.

[0097] Further, in the above-described embodiments, the etching stop layer 18 is formed of electrically conductive material whose etch selectivity is not less than 1, but when the thickness of the etching stop layer 18 is increased, it may be formed of electrically conductive material whose etch selectivity is less than 1.

[0098] In addition, explanation of the invention has been given with respect to the angular velocity sensor illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 63 as an example, but, of course, the present invention is applicable to various external force detection sensors other than the angular velocity sensor illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, such as an acceleration sensor.

[0099] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, various modes of carrying out the principles disclosed herein are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims. Therefore, it is understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited except as otherwise set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, which method includes through-hole dry etching of an element substrate using an etching stop layer, wherein said etching stop layer comprises an electrically conductive material.
 2. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, which comprises forming a recessed part on a back surface side of an element substrate, forming a membrane on a face side, providing an etching stop layer comprising an electrically conductive material on a top surface of the recessed part of said element substrate, joining the back surface side of said element substrate with a support substrate, and forming a sensor element by dry etching of the membrane of said element substrate.
 3. A manufacturing method of an external force detection sensor according to claim 2, wherein the recessed part is formed in a center part of a back surface of the element substrate.
 4. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, comprising interposing an etching stop layer comprised of an electrically conductive material between an element substrate and a dummy support substrate to support the element substrate through-hole dry etching of the element substrate to form a sensor element.
 5. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor according to claim 4, wherein the dummy support substrate and the etching stop layer are removed after the sensor element is formed and, after that, a support substrate with a recessed part formed therein is arranged on a back surface side of said element substrate such that the recessed par of said support substrate is arranged opposite to the sensor element and, then the support substrate is joined with the element substrate.
 6. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, comprising forming an etching stop layer comprised of an electrically conductive material in a preset sensor element forming area on a back surface side of an element substrate, arranging a support substrate with a recessed part formed therein on a back surface side of said element substrate, the recessed part of said support substrate being arranged opposite to the etching stop layer of said element substrate, joining the support substrate with the element substrate, and, thereafter, forming a sensor element by through-hole dry etching of the sensor element forming area of said element substrate from its face side.
 7. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, comprising forming an etching stop layer comprised of an electrically conductive material on a preset sensor element forming area on a back surface side of an element substrate, arranging a support substrate with a recessed part formed therein on the back surface side of said element substrate, the recessed part of said support substrate being arranged opposite to the etching stop layer of said element substrate, joining the support substrate with the element substrate, then, reducing said element substrate in thickness co a specified value and, then, forming a sensor element by through-hole dry etching of the sensor element forming area of said element substrate from its face side.
 8. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor, comprising forming a membrane by machining a preset sensor element forming area of an element substrate from both face and back surface sides, arranging an etching stop layer comprised of an electrically conductive material formed on a back surface side of the membrane, then, joining a support substrate with a back surface side of the element substrate, and then forming a sensor element by through-hole dry etching of the membrane from its face side.
 9. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor according to claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the element substrate is formed of a silicon material, the support substrate is formed of a glass material, and the element substrate is anodically joined with the support substrate.
 10. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the etching stop layer is formed of an electrically conductive material whose etch selectivity which is the ratio of the dry-etch rate of an element substrate to the dry-etch rate of an etching stop layer is not less than
 1. 11. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor element is a movable element.
 12. A method of manufacturing an external force detection sensor according to claim 10, wherein the etching stop layer is made of titanium or aluminum. 